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ARTICLE · 18 JUNE 2024

Personal Data FAQs

Clarkslegal LLP
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Personal data identifies an individual via identifiers or specific factors. Sensitive data, requiring more protection, includes race, health, and sexual orientation. Data controllers define data processing purposes, while processors act on their behalf. Individuals have rights to access, correct, delete, and control their data.

United KingdomPrivacy
Sana Nahas
Sana Nahas

What is personal data?

Personal data refers to any information related to an identifiable living individual.

That individual has to be identified or identifiable, directly or indirectly, from one or more identifiers (such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier) or from factors specific to the individual (such as physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity).

The person in question is often referred to as a 'data subject'.

Are there different categories of personal data?

Some personal data, referred to as 'special category data' is treated as being more sensitive, and therefore requires a greater level of protection. This is information about the data subject's:

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